MJ Acosta-Ruiz joins Joy Taylor for one of their most personal conversations yet.

The longtime friends discuss the pressure of succeeding as Black and Latina women in sports media, navigating burnout while building successful careers, and unlearning the perfectionism and people-pleasing habits that many women inherit from childhood.

MJ opens up about balancing multiple high-profile roles across ESPN, NFL Network and NBA TV, the emotional toll of constantly striving for excellence, and what it means to show up authentically in spaces that weren't built for you.

They also dive into identity, representation, generational expectations, and why giving yourself grace might be the hardest lesson of all.

If you've ever felt overwhelmed trying to do everything perfectly, this conversation is for you.

MJ Acosta-Ruiz joins Joy Taylor for one of their most personal conversations yet.
The longtime friends discuss the pressure of succeeding as Black and Latina women in sports media, navigating burnout while building successful careers, and unlearning the perfectionism and people-pleasing habits that many women inherit from childhood.
MJ opens up about balancing multiple high-profile roles across ESPN, NFL Network and NBA TV, the emotional toll of constantly striving for excellence, and what it means to show up authentically in spaces that weren't built for you.
They also dive into identity, representation, generational expectations, and why giving yourself grace might be the hardest lesson of all.
If you've ever felt overwhelmed trying to do everything perfectly, this conversation is for you.

Finally, a podcast that gets brutally honest about the toughest conversations we need to have. The groundbreaking new show Two Personal facilitates thoughtful dialogue on hot-button topics. TV Personality Joy Taylor tackles these conversations head-on, getting candid in a way typically reserved for your inner circle. With equal parts humor and wisdom, Joy chats about culture and social issues. Unafraid to explore complex topics like racism, sexism, and mental health, she advances these conversations with nuance and compassion.

Two Personal with Joy Taylor

Episode 21: MJ Acosta-Ruiz on Surviving the Grind, Setting Hard Boundaries & What It Really Means to Be Booked & Busy

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/78a347aa-3282-4ac5-837c-a72300032082/clips/a5e209a3-2c42-4c66-9445-b466006272f1/transcript